5/4/2008 Our first ever DCl cruise...Shhhh! It's a suprise!

[Honeibee]

Hello everyone! Dh and I have been to WDW several times in the last few years. He went once before my time, but didn't think much of it. It was hot, crowded, didnt get to do much....

However, I turned him on to the advantages of advance planning and now we go at least twice a year! We just ran the Half Marathon in January (our first ever running event) and we will be doing it again next January. I am going solo in May to run the Minnie.

We have been on several Carnival cruises and we always talked about going on a DCL cruise, but, well, it hasn't happened yet. However....thanks to my best friend on the WISH Board who had this fabulous idea.....

I'm going to suprise my DH at Christmas with a four day cruise on the Wonder, leaving May 4th, right after we both run the Minnie 15K (which will also be a suprise to him )

To me, planning the trips to WDW has always been just as much fun as going. Ok, maybe not JUST as much fun, but it's a big part of it. So, how in the heck am I going to get thru the next nine months without saying a word to him about it??? Already I have almost slipped up twice.

I'm so crazy with excitment, I guess I just have to not think about it. Uh hu, like THATS going to happen!

Anyone else sailing May 4, 2008? I'll be hanging around here until then to find out all I can. Thanks in advance for all the help, inside tips, hints, suggestions, must-dos and what to avoid that I know I always get at the DIS!

 

[mommasita]

That sounds amazing..Does he have a passport? It looks like it may be a necessity by then. That would be a major player for me..

Also, on the top of this page are cruise meets. Surely there is one for your date, if not, start one. It is a great way to pass the time, and meet new people sailing with you..

All the best

 

[jiminyC_fan]

OH-OH, be careful. You will become addicted!! It sounds perfect. Have a great time!

 

[keenercam]

I am so jealous! I want to go too! Really, Judy, I am sooo happy for you, but I just don't know HOW you are going to keep this a secret!!! Thank God you won't have to consult with him on spa treatments, etc. until after you've told him! : Thank God you can share all the planning here, right? What would we do without our DIS buddies?

 

[eva]

That sounds fabulous! I would love to surprise DH with something like that. But I'm not sure how I could ever do it. Since he does all the bills and manages our accounts, he may wonder where all that money is going.

As mommasita said, be sure he brings his passport on the trip. As of now, they are saying that it will be required on all cruises starting in 2008. If he doesn't have one, you will have to be very creative on how to talk him into getting one. Maybe mention with all the new requirements, they are advising all Americans to get a passport, blah, blah, blah! You've heard the price may double over the next year, blah, blah, blah. Have him get it as soon as possible, then he will forget all about it by the time that the trip comes around and won't be so suspicious.

 

[twinmommyks]

So, how in the heck am I going to get thru the next nine months without saying a word to him about it??? Already I have almost slipped up twice.

We are going May 25, 2008 and haven't told our kids yet. I keep saying to them, sometime, when we go on a Disney cruise.....I don't know how I'll keep it a secret. My plans are to fly in a few days early to do some other things and surprise them at that time with the cruise. Not sure if I will be able to keep my mouth quiet or not. Good luck to you in planning your trip and keeping it hush until it's time.

 

[Honeibee]

Oh thanks everyone! Yes we both have passports. He's had his for years. I'm the knucklehead who waited until the last minute when we went to Italy last summer. I had to pay the extra processing fee to speed it up. Well, live and learn.

Yes, keeping this quiet is going to be the hardest part. Already I have a folder on my desk at work that's about 3/4 of an inch thick on things I have read and printed out. I feel like I have so much to learn! For someone who can plan a commando week at WDW without batting an eye, I feel totally lost when it comes to DCL.

Cam - Ohh hey, thanks for stopping in here. Since this was ALL YOUR IDEA! Hee hee.

 

[Cobbo]

Congrats on planning the surprise...I just surprised my DW with a 3 day last month, which I booked 8/17/06 and she did not know we were going/what we were doing until we were driving on the bridge on the way to the Port on 2/22/07 - so I feel your mischievous glee! I'm sure your DH will love it as much as my DW did...

Quick pointer/thought though - be sure to use an alternate address for your registration docs with DCL so that no mail slips up & makes it to the house where he may see it first. I used my office address, and I'm glad I did b/c everytime I made a payment on the website, they sent a confirmation snail mail letter to the address on file, and even though I did all of our paperwork on-line, there were one or two DCL fun pre-planning booklets that were snail mailed out at unexpected/unannounced times, which had my DW found would have spoiled the surprise.

As an aside, my DW was still in complete surprise mode that she was stunned when I dropped her off at the Port w/DD and our checked bags (trying to guess what to pack for her w/o her knowledge was the hardest part for me), while I drove across the street to park the car, but the smile on her face when I walked back into the port building to meet her for check-in made it all worth it!

 

[keenercam]

First of all, I wanted to tell Cobbo how impressed I am with the romantic surprise! How cool! I'd LOVE DH to do something like that but would be worried that I didn't have the right clothes packed.

Judy -- I hadn't even thought about the interim payment confirmations!!!! OMG! By the time they send the cruise documents, your DH will know, but in the interim you have to be so careful about the mail!!!!

BTW, we still havent' told DS14 that we are doing this without him. DD18 wants to tell him on April 1 while she is home for spring break and then NOT say "April Fool's" even when he's saying "yeah, right Jenn, april fool's ha-ha! NOT" She's got this whole thing planned in her head and gets this devilish little smirk in her voice every time she talks about it with me. She's BEGGING me to let her tell him -- and in that way! I'm not sure I'm going to let her do that. It seems so cruel!!!! But kind of funny, too, don't you think?

 

[Honeibee]

Yes! I concur, Cam. Cobbo, that was sooooo sweet of you! OMG she must have been TOTALLY shocked! Thanks for the pointers about the mail. I get home before DH does so I almost always get the mail. Even if he gets home first, he usually forgets. I wasn't too worried about that...but now that I think about it more, maybe I will switch it to my dad's address. He lives only 5 minutes away. Yes...thats a good idea.

Oh Cam, that Jenn is a funny girl! Are you going to let her tell him on April Fools Day? I'm sorry to say, but it DOES sound kinda funny!

I do have a question today though.... Do we have to make any "ADR"s on DCL? On Carnival you got your time and dining room assigments and all you did was show up. Is there anything I need to reserve or plan in advance?

What I better plan on is getting some guide books! I think I want to get the Passporter. Better make a covert trip to the bookstore!

 

[keenercam]

oooh, I kind of know the answer to this one. You can book reservations for dinner and brunch at Palo's (the adult restaurant) and spa appointments 90 days before you sail, as long as your cruise is paid in full. You will definitely want to read up on the spa treatments, Judy, after doing the Minnie. I think you'll both NEED a couples massage!!! We LOVED Palo's on the Magic and I will definitely book it again for our trip, but I'd think that if you don't happen to get it for a shorter trip, you will still be sufficiently entertained and fed that you won't really miss it. If you have to choose between brunch and dinner, I'd suggest the brunch -- it is just absolutely wonderful, though I don't think they have their world famous chocolate souffle at brunch! I think I am going to book facials for me and Jenn, possibly on Nassau day!

Oops, forgot to mention - Howard and I did the couples mud treatment thing -- it was called Suriel Mud bath back then, but is called something else now. Let me just say that was one of the most interesting hours of my life to date!

 

[Mousermom]

My husband and I are planning to go on this cruise as part of a Land/Sea Package. Hope you have fun and hope your hubby is surprised. It will be for our 15th anniversary! I have too much of big mouth to surprise anyone! Besides, it's all I have been talking about! We still have over a year to go!

I hope everything works out for you. Good Luck!

 

[keenercam]

Hey, Judy! Guess what arrived in the mail yesterday? Stuff from DCL confirming our booking and telling us dates to book stuff. Guess who brought the mail in? You got it! Andrew!!! Thank God he was completely oblivious due to the huge volume of junk mail and magazines in the same pile. Get thee to the mail box before DH every day or there will be no surprise!

 

[mindy327]

yeah, someone that will be sailing with us! I promise you will absolutely love it. And about the addictions, its true. Go once and you cant stop. Anyhow, we wil be going with my DH and two kids. Also my Parents and Sisters with their spouses and kids. Mini family reunion. Actually they found out we were going again and just decided to all tag along. It will be great. PM me and we can chat. Perhaps meet up on the ship and talk Disney! I would love to say hi.
thank Mindy.

 

[CSwan1]

yeah, someone that will be sailing with us! I promise you will absolutely love it. And about the addictions, its true. Go once and you cant stop. Anyhow, we wil be going with my DH and two kids. Also my Parents and Sisters with their spouses and kids. Mini family reunion. Actually they found out we were going again and just decided to all tag along. It will be great. PM me and we can chat. Perhaps meet up on the ship and talk Disney! I would love to say hi.
thank Mindy.

Anyone else sailing May 4, 2008? I'll be hanging around here until then to find out all I can. Thanks in advance for all the help, inside tips, hints, suggestions, must-dos and what to avoid that I know I always get at the DIS!

We're on this cruise as well!!! I'm so excited to meet some fellow cruisers! There are 9 of us booked; other family members are still thinking of joining us. Should we start an official cruise meet? I tried starting one but I'm very new to this site and I don't think I did it right. Let's keep in touch!

 

[Honeibee]

We're on this cruise as well!!! I'm so excited to meet some fellow cruisers! There are 9 of us booked; other family members are still thinking of joining us. Should we start an official cruise meet? I tried starting one but I'm very new to this site and I don't think I did it right. Let's keep in touch!

Crystal -

Yes lets's start an "official" thread. Why don't you think you did right? I'll have a look in the "Meets" Forum.

Is this your first DCL cruise? It will be ours so maybe we could all help each other during planning. I have a friend from the WISH Forum who is on the Wonder right now so when she comes back I'll share what I learned from her.

I think THIS is the hardest part! The waiting. I'm so glad to have found some otehrs who are going because - obviously - I can't share the excitment with my DH yet. Not until Christmas!

 

[CSwan1]

Crystal -

Yes lets's start an "official" thread. Why don't you think you did right? I'll have a look in the "Meets" Forum.

Is this your first DCL cruise? It will be ours so maybe we could all help each other during planning. I have a friend from the WISH Forum who is on the Wonder right now so when she comes back I'll share what I learned from her.

I think THIS is the hardest part! The waiting. I'm so glad to have found some otehrs who are going because - obviously - I can't share the excitment with my DH yet. Not until Christmas!

This will be the second Disney Cruise for all of us except my sister and her daughter. My DH, DD and Dmom went May of 2006 and my DH and I were married on the ship! We will be celebrating our 2nd anniversary in 2008.
The waiting is definately the hardest part. My daughter and I talk about the cruise and Disney everyday. We are so excited! I can't wait to share questions and ideas with my future cruisers!

 

[KatRob]

Yes we both have passports. He's had his for years.

Check the date on his passport, if it expires within 6 months of your travel date it will need to be renewed. (Your return date has to be more than 6 months from expiration date.) I would hate for you to have an ugly surprise at the last moment.

 

[Honeibee]

Check the date on his passport, if it expires within 6 months of your travel date it will need to be renewed. (Your return date has to be more than 6 months from expiration date.) I would hate for you to have an ugly surprise at the last moment.

Oy! I didn't even THINK of that! Thank you so much!! I will certainly be checking it.

 

[CSwan1]

I started a May 4th 2008 official cruise meet today. I hope we find more fellow cruisers! Check it out if you get a chance. Let me know what you think.